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2026 Prior Authorization Survey for MSSNY Members
Prior authorizations frequently impose overwhelming burdens that can cause unnecessary delays in needed care for patients. Delay in authorization of prescriptions, tests or procedures can cause needless anxiety for patients already stressed by uncertainty regarding their condition, particularly those with chronic conditions who have complex medical needs, and whose health depends on following strict treatment plans.
MSSNY is advocating for legislation to address issues related to prior authorization and needs your input
. Please take a moment to complete the following survey to help us gauge the impact that prior authorizations are having on patients and physician practices in New York State.
Physician Experience With Prior Authorization
1.
Please provide your best estimate of the number of prior authorizations for prescriptions and/or medical services completed by you and/or your staff for your patients in the last week.
0 prior authorizations completed in the last week
10 or less prior authorizations completed in the last week
11-25 prior authorizations completed in the last week
25-50 prior authorizations completed in the last week
25-50 prior authorizations completed in the last week
Prescription medications
0 prior authorizations completed in the last week
10 or less prior authorizations completed in the last week
11-25 prior authorizations completed in the last week
25-50 prior authorizations completed in the last week
25-50 prior authorizations completed in the last week
Medical services (e.g., procedures, labs, durable medical equipment, imaging, etc.)
0 prior authorizations completed in the last week
10 or less prior authorizations completed in the last week
11-25 prior authorizations completed in the last week
25-50 prior authorizations completed in the last week
25-50 prior authorizations completed in the last week
2.
Of all the prior authorizations you and your staff completed in the last week, please share your best estimate of the number of hours spent on processing PA requests.
0 Hours over the last week
1-2 Hours over the last week
3-10 Hours over the last week
11-20 Hours over the last week
20 or more hours over the last week
Yourself
0 Hours over the last week
1-2 Hours over the last week
3-10 Hours over the last week
11-20 Hours over the last week
20 or more hours over the last week
Your Staff
0 Hours over the last week
1-2 Hours over the last week
3-10 Hours over the last week
11-20 Hours over the last week
20 or more hours over the last week
3.
How often are you asked to repeat prior authorizations already approved?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
4.
If you must repeat prior authorizations, at what frequency?
Less than 3 months.
3-6 months.
6-9 months.
9-12 months.
5.
How has the
number
of prior authorizations required for
prescription medications
used in your patients’ treatment changed over the last five years? *Please choose one.
Increased significantly.
Increased somewhat.
No change.
Decreased somewhat.
Decreased significantly.
6.
How has the
number
of prior authorizations required for
medical services
changed over the last five years? *Please choose one.
Increased significantly.
Increased somewhat.
No change.
Decreased somewhat.
Decreased significantly.
7.
Do you have staff members in your practice who work exclusively on PA?
Yes
No
8.
Do any of the health plans with which you contract offer programs that exempt physicians from prior authorization requirements? *These exemptions can be based on performance such as “Gold Card” programs.
Yes
No
Don’t know or not sure.
9.
Please indicate how often you and/or your staff use each of the following methods to complete prior authorizations for
prescription medications.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Always
Don't Know
Electronic health record/electronic prescribing system.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Always
Don't Know
Health plan portal/website.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Always
Don't Know
Fax
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Always
Don't Know
Phone
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Always
Don't Know
Email
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Always
Don't Know
US Mail
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Always
Don't Know
10.
Please indicate how often you and/or your staff use each of the following methods to complete prior authorizations for
medical service.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Always
Don't Know
Electronic health record/electronic prescribing system.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Always
Don't Know
Health plan portal/website.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Always
Don't Know
Fax
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Always
Don't Know
Phone
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Always
Don't Know
Email
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Always
Don't Know
US Mail
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Always
Don't Know
Impact on Patient Access to Care
11.
For those patients whose treatment requires prior authorization, how often does this process delay necessary care and/or cause patients to abandon treatment?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Always
Don’t know.
12.
In your experience, has the prior authorization process led to a serious adverse event (e.g., death, hospitalization, disability/permanent bodily damage, or other life-threatening event) for a patient in your care?
Yes
No
Don’t know
Please Tell Us About Yourself & Your Practice
13.
Which of the following options best describes you?
Practicing physician
Retired physician.
Resident or fellow.
Medical student.
Other (Please be specific.)
14.
How many hours of direct patient care do you provide during a typical week of practice? *Please choose only one.
0-20 hours.
21-40 hours.
41-60 hours.
61-80 hours.
81-100 hours.
Don’t know.
15.
Including yourself, how many physicians are in your practice?
1-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
Greater than 20.
16.
Which of the following best describes your main practice?
Solo practice.
Single-specialty group practice.
Multi-specialty group practice.
Hospital/health system.
Ambulatory surgical center.
Urgent care facility.
Other (Please be specific.)
17.
Please select your primary medical specialty from the following list.
Allergy & Immunology
Anesthesiology
Cardiology
Dermatology
Emergency Medicine
Family or General Practice
Gastroenterology
Hematology & Oncology
Internal Medicine
Neurology
Obstetrics/Gynecology
Ophthalmology
Pediatrics
Plastic Surgery
Psychiatry
Radiology
Rheumatology
Surgery
Other (Please be specific.)
18.
What part of the state are you located?
New York City
Long Island
Westchester
Hudson Valley
Capital District
Central NY
Western NY
Upstate/Adirondacks
Help MSSNY Change Policy
19.
Are you willing to share your experience with state and federal policymakers and members of the media? If so, please share your name, email, and phone number.
20.
If you have additional comments and feedback, please share.
If you have additional comments and feedback, please share.
